Square tubing for newel posts



Dec. 16, 1930. FELSENTHAL 1,785,025

SQUARE TUBING FOR NEWEL POSTS Filed D80. 2; 1927 A J Ziw \3 7 W 1w? 6T6 6 4 I a i ZHQWM 15.971124! Patented Dec. 16, 1930 I UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE HAROLD FELSENTHAL, OF CHICAGO, IL LINOIS, ASSIGNOR TO GUARSTEEL SAFETY STAIR 00., OF CHICAGO, ILLINOIS, A CORPORATION OF ILLINOIS SQUARE moraine FOR NEWEL ros'rs Application m d December 2, 1927, Serial No. 237,314.

This invention relates to substantially square steel, lap-welded tubing and the meth-' od of makingthe same,.particularly suitable for making newel posts, n

The main objects of this invention are to provide an improved form of square steel tubing having a maximum of strength and a minimum of material; to provide tubing of this character that is particularly suitable for I In making newel posts to be used in schools and blind institutions and the like where it is desired to have slightly rounded corners on the newels.

An illustrative embodiment of this inven-- 1.3 from 1s shown 1n the accompanylng drawlngs Figure 2 isa section of the completed tub Lu ing taken on the line 22 of Fig. 3.

Figure 3 is a fragmentary elevation of the upper end of a newel post formed from this some uses such as in blindinstitutions and in school houses where it is undesirable to have sharp corners. exposed.

improved tubing.

Heretofore newel posts have been common-;

This method of ly made from cast iron. manufacture has presented many objections, the main one of which is the high cost of the product. Cast iron newel posts also necessitate having a different pattern for each dif- 3:: ferent length of post required in buildings,

and these cast iron newel posts are also objectionable in that they are brittle and to shatter and break under strain.

In the construction shown in the drawings,

"' a substantially flat plate 1, preferably of rolled steel, is provided on one surface thereof with a plurality of longitudinally disposed thickened portions 2 having substantially 5 square corners 3 forming sharply defined de pressed panels 4 between each of the thick ened sections 2.

The opposite surface of the plate 1 is-provided at a point substantially midway of each of the thickened sections 2 with V-shaped grooves 5 for weakening the plate so, as to make it more readily bendable along such grooves. V I

The plate 1 is then bent along each of the grooves 5 in a direction toward said grooves so as to form a substantially rectangular liable When this tubing is used for making newel posts, sections of the required lengthare cut and a cap 7 having a depending flange 8 of a width equal to the distance between the adjacent square shoulders 3 and of a thickness equal to the depth of the depressed panels 4 is welded or otherwise suitably secured to the end of the tube to make the finished newel 0st. 'The'thickened portions 2' formed on the outer surface of the plate 1 have a doublefunction in'that they add strength to the tube at the same time it permits the finished newel -post to have a depressed panel which is very desirable from an ornamental standpointas well as permitting the use of a minimum amount of metal 1n making a substantlal post. Round corners on the post are deslrable for Although but one specific embodiment of this invention has been herein shown and claims.

claim: e f 1. ,A tube of the class described made from a substantially flat steelstrip, one surface thereof being provided with longitudinally extending V-shaped grooves, a. longitudinally extending-thickened portion on the other side of said-strip positioned substantially opposite 1 each groove for strengthening the V grooved portions of said strip, said strip being bent along said grooves to form a plurality. of substantially flat sides angularly disposed to'one another, and thelateral edges of said strip being joined to form a hollow unitarygstructure.

2. A tube ofthe class described made from a substantially fiat steel strip, said strip having a plurality of longitudinally extending grooves in one side thereof and a relatively grooveson the inner side :thereof, extending substantially through the thickness of the strip, anda relatively narrow longitudinally extending thickened portion on the other surface of said strip substantiallyopposite each groovefor strengthening the grooved portions of;the'strip,-said stripbeing bent along said'grooves to form a plurality of substantially .flat sides angularly disposed to one another,-and the lateral edges of said-strip being lap welded to form a hollow unitary structure, said lap weld being spaced away from a corner of said tube.

4. Tubing of the class descrlbed, comprising an integral metal strip'having spaced depressions forming panels decorating the outer surface thereof and formingthickened "portions between'the panels, the inner surface of the said metal being provided with longitudinally extending V-shaped grooves having their Vertices substantially at the longitudinal center lines of the thickened portions for facilitating bending at the cen ter of the thickened portion to position adj acent parts thereof in angularly disposed :planes.

5. A tubular frame of rectangular crosssection comprising an integral sheet of metal having "spaced depressions forming decora- 'tl e panelson the outer surface, andlaterally shouldered thickened portions between said panels on the outer side of the sheet the inner side of the sheet being provided with longitudinally extending miter grooves located between the longitudinal edges of the thickened portion, and formed to facilitate bending oft-he adjacent sections thereof substantially at right angles to each other, said grooves being closed when the tube is formed.

6. A blank for forming tubing, comprising a strip of metal provided on one side with spaced longitudinally extending miter grooves of a depth substantially equal to the thereof along predetermined lines, and a thickened laterally shoulderedportion on the other side of thestrip substantiallyopposite reachigroove 'for reinforcing the portion of the Strip that is weakened :thegrooves, adjacent thickened portions forming depressed panels in the strip.

7. A tube of the class described made from a substantially flat steel strip, one surface thereof being provided with longitudinally extending grooves presenting opposite flat surfaces arranged to abut and defining the limits of the bending of the strip, longitudinally extending thickened portions on the-other'face of the strip positioned substantially opposite the said grooves and strengthening the grooved portions of the strip, said stripbeing bent along said grooved portion to form a plurality of abutting sides angularly disposed to one another, the thickened portions between the sides forming decorative panels.

Signed at Chicago this 29th day of November, 1927.

HAROLD FELSENTHAL.

thickness ofthestripfor facilitating-bending 

